Music to Your Customers’ Ears

Particularly during busy times, when you see increased customer traffic in the store, you will need to come up with a short and sweet message to give to your staff heading out onto the sales floor every day.

We recommend that, on most days, you provide staff with a ‘line of the day’.

You’ll pick an item, or topic that you want to promote, and you’ll come up with a short line that your staff can use to introduce the subject, or break the ice.

Write this ‘line of the day’ on your communication board in the backroom which, usually, is positioned to ensure all staff see it every time they go out on the sales floor. (This is critical so if it’s not positioned there, move it.)

On days that you don’t have a particular item or topic to promote, you can use some motivational phrases.

This is a perfect opportunity to remind everyone that customers love to hear words that make them feel good…particularly if they are parting with their money.

Here’s a list of phrases that your staff can use throughout their busy days. They’ll sound like music to your customer’s ears.

Pass them on.

• Let me help you with that.
• I’ll take care of that for you right away.
• Consider it done.
• We’re always pleased to be of service.
• Let us know what we can do to help you.
• If you need help, you’ve come to the right place.
• We’re at your service.
• We’ll make that happen.
• We aim to please.
• Certainly, we can do that for you.

Hint: Sincerity is everything. Each staff member should say what comes naturally to them.

That’s why we’re sharing examples…to give them ideas that will help them develop their own.

No customer wants to hear words that come across as a recorded message.

Motivation Tips for You

Retailers are crazy busy right now. And that’s exactly how you want it, right?

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, so we thought we’d share some tips on self motivation to help you through this time of year and, even more importantly, to help you get off to a great start in the new year.

These motivational tips apply regardless of your position or rank; whether you own the business or manage within it.  

Here they are…

1. Beware of Hanging on to Past Failures

To create a better future, you must let go of problems and bad experiences in your past.

Learn from your failures but understand that a few failures do not mean you are doomed to fail forever.

Whatever you do, whatever position you’re in, don’t let past failures be obstacles on the path toward your dreams.

All kinds of circumstances could have contributed to past failures. Perhaps many of them were not of your own making. So, let them go.

2. Focus on Past Successes

It is extremely important to remember, and focus on, your past successes.

Whether it was a person you developed to become a great leader; or a time when your stores were ranked at the top of the company; or just a really great trend you had going for a while, you have succeeded at something in the past and you need to hang onto those successes as a reminder that you can definitely achieve your goals.

3. Realize the Possibilities

You must believe, with certainty, that what you want is possible.

Do you want to get the promotion to a higher volume store which will mean more money for you and your family?

Or do you want to be the top regional manager and receive the recognition that comes along with that?

Do you want the store(s) you own to be ‘off the charts’ successful? Whatever dreams you have are within your reach.

You must fully accept that you can create what it is you are dreaming of. This firm belief will help you to realize the dream; make it real.

4. Dream the Big Dream

For dreams and desires to inspire you to action and great achievements, they need to be big enough to get you really excited about what you have planned for the future.

If the dream is not big enough, you may never find the inspiration you need to change your life.

Powerful dreams can move the soul and drive you to make your dream become a reality.

      5. Take Action to Make Change Happen

Change always requires that you take action. You cannot just want something really badly, or hope for something really badly.

You must find out what it will take to get to that next position, or make your store(s) number one, or whatever it is that you want.

No change will ever result from thinking alone.

Thinking positively is certainly a great place to start but, without action, your desires to achieve remarkable results will remain as dreams.

6. Take Time to Review and Plan

You’ll need to take 30 minutes each night to review your day – what worked, what didn’t, where could your time have been better spent working toward your long term goals – and, also, plan for the next day.

This is one way to control your life and to set you on the right path as you work toward your goals. 

7. Change your Routines Regularly

If you are in a routine that does not propel you in the direction of your goals, you must make a point of changing the routine.

Try adding at least one new step to your daily routine, each day, to start you on a more productive path.

Changing routines regularly will help you avoid monotony, leaving you open to explore new and different routines that support your goals.

8. Achieving Goals requires Teamwork

You don’t have to go after your dreams and goals alone. Achieving a goal or dream sometimes requires a team effort – a team of like minded people.

When you have team support you will be less likely to feel like giving up when times get tough.

You will easily overcome small setbacks when you have team support and guidance.

9. Don’t Wait to Get Excited – Start Now

Everything you are dreaming about, and have established goals for, should excite you now. You must imagine that you have already achieved what you want.

Doing so helps you visualize yourself in your new situation. When you visualize the future and living the life you want, you will get even more excited and inspired.

That, in turn, drives you even harder toward your goals.

10. Raise Your Standards

Creating the life you are dreaming of – personal or professional – requires that you give your very best.

You cannot expect to achieve what you want if you are not giving your very best in everything you do.

This means that you must hold yourself to a much higher standard than you hold anyone else to.

This is not to say that your teammates should not be held to high standards. Of course, they should. But your own standards must be even higher.

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